Busan’s Ilgwang Beach, where the novel “The Seaside Village” meets 2 km of golden sand

2 km of golden sand and the coastline of Ilgwang left by Samseongdae

Ilgwang Beach is a seaside beach located at 143-10 Samseong-ri, Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan Metropolitan City; its road-name address is the area around 17 Samseong 3-gil. Busan’s tourism information explains that the golden sand stretches for approximately 2 km and introduces this scenery as the third of the Eight Scenic Views of Chaseong.

The mound in the middle of the beach is called Samseongdae (三聖臺). The place name Samseong-ri, Ilgwang-myeon, also originated from Samseongdae, and Visit Busan records that it comes from the old expression ‘Saemseokdae.’ Saem means a mineral spring, while seok means a place where boats are moored. Rather than looking only at the sandy beach, observing the mound in the center as well reveals the context behind the place name.

Samseong-ri, from the 1953 novel The Tidal Village to a 1965 filming location

Ilgwang Beach is known as the setting of The Tidal Village, a short story published in 1953 by novelist Oh Yeong-su. Set in a seaside village during the Japanese colonial period, the work depicts the life of Haesun, the daughter of a haenyeo, and serves as a clue connecting Ilgwang not merely to a summer resort but to the living history of fishing villages along Busan’s east coast.

Director Kim Soo-yong’s film The Tidal Village was filmed here in 1965. Gijang-gun and Visit Busan explain that traces of the film developed into a beach festival beginning in 1995. In 2026, the first Ilgwang Sea Festival will be held at the Ilgwang Beach event stage from July 31 to August 2. The schedule includes traditional fishing-net pulling, hand fishing, shellfish gathering, and a fireworks festival.

July 1–August 31, 2026: swimming from 09:00 to 18:00

The 2026 operating period for Ilgwang Beach is from July 1 to August 31. Gijang-gun also states that privately installed shade facilities are permitted from 09:00 to 18:00 during this period, while Visit Busan lists the hours when swimming is permitted during the beach season as 09:00–18:00. If you plan to enter the sea, calculate the permitted swimming hours separately even if you intend to stay until around sunset.

Admission is free, and no regular closing day is separately announced. For tourism inquiries, call 051-709-5446; the main Gijang-gun telephone number is 051-709-4000. It is safest to check the official tourism information pages of Visit Busan and Gijang-gun. During summer, swimming outside designated places and hours, littering, cooking, and camping are prohibited, as are smoking on the sandy beach and collecting sand.

• 2026 operating period: July 1–August 31
• Permitted hours for swimming and private shade facilities: 09:00–18:00
• Admission: Free
• Restrooms: Available

14 minutes from Exit 1 of Ilgwang Station on the Donghae Line; choose between stops 180 and 188

If you travel by rail, it takes approximately 14 minutes to walk from Exit 1 of Ilgwang Station on the Donghae Line to the beach. When walking between the station and the beach, head in the direction of Samseong 3-gil. If you have swimming equipment or a stroller, it is also worth comparing access to the bus stops.

Take city buses 180 or 188 and get off at ‘Ilgwang Beach Entrance.’ Gijang-gun village buses Gijang-gun 2, Gijang-gun 3, Gijang-gun 8-1, and Gijang-gun 9 also pass the same stop. If traveling from another beach in central Busan, plan for transfer time and the Donghae Line service intervals, and check your return train schedule in advance.

71-space public parking lot around Samseong-ri 712 and beach-use rules

For those arriving by car, Gijang-gun’s public parking information lists the ‘Ilgwang Beach Public Parking Lot’ in the area around 712 Samseong-ri, Ilgwang-eup, with 71 spaces. Separately, 39 spaces are listed along the one-way section of Ilgwang Beach, so during peak season it is more practical to identify the public parking lot first rather than search only for a spot close to the beach, and then be prepared to walk.

Official tourism information indicates accessible parking, an accessible restroom, and Braille information. Pets are also indicated as permitted, but safety management and on-site controls may differ during the beach season, so bring a leash and supplies for waste disposal and follow on-site instructions. Stroller and wheelchair users should plan routes mainly around the paved areas near the beach rather than attempting to enter the sandy beach.

Shallow water and gentle waves: plan a 90-minute to 2-hour walk

Visit Busan explains that Ilgwang Beach tends to have shallower water and gentler waves than other beaches. It notes that the beach is therefore popular with visitors accompanied by children, but this does not take precedence over lifeguard controls, wave height, or weather conditions. Before entering the water, check the day’s safety guidance, including the lookout towers, flags, and announcements.

If you only plan to walk while looking out over the sea and observe the area around Samseongdae, 90 minutes is sufficient; adding swimming during the beach season and a meal calls for approximately 2–4 hours. The beach retains a tradition of raised wooden platforms, and during the operating period a designated area permits private shade facilities from near the Two Some Place to near Lookout Tower 2. Follow on-site instructions regarding installation outside the permitted area.

Ilgwang Sea Festival, July 31–August 2: reasons to embrace and avoid the crowds

The first Ilgwang Sea Festival of 2026 will take place over three days, from Friday, July 31, to Sunday, August 2. The venue is the Ilgwang Beach event stage, and the inquiry telephone number is 051-723-2219. The program on July 31 includes a Seonghwang rite, a street-play parade, an opening ceremony, and a concert; August 1 features a shellfish-gathering experience and the preliminary round of a singing contest; and August 2 features the final round and a fireworks festival.

If you want to move around the event route and take part in activities such as traditional fishing-net pulling, hand fishing, and an underwater treasure hunt, the festival dates are ideal. If you want to walk quietly along the 2 km beach, however, it is better to avoid those dates and the hours of the nighttime performances. Event programs and whether a car-free street will operate may change, so check the Gijang-gun festival page again just before departing.